Policy Statement
by
Mr. C. M. Lekaukau
Executive Chairman, Botswana Telecommunications Authority
Republic of Botswana

Wednesday, 20 March 2002

Mr. Chairman, my delegation would like to associate itself with the kind remarks, which have already been communicated in this august forum by other delegations regarding your election as chairman and to the government of Turkey as a good host country. A good word also goes to the BDT for the excellent preparations for this conference.

Botswana recognizes the importance of the development of information and communications technology systems (ICT’s) and a coherent policy on ICT is being developed despite the fact that we are latecomers in the game. There has been a significant change in the industry since 1997 due to several policies and programmes, which aim at promoting ITCs. Some of these policies are the Telecommunications Policy, the Science and Technology Policy and Vision 2016. Over the years many institutions and groups have come up with strategies that have had positive impact on the development of ICT in Botswana.

One of these policies, which has made a significant impact in the development of ICT is the Telecommunications Policy of 1995. The main objectives of the policy are to, achieve universal service, promote private sector participation in the development of the telecommunications industry, and liberalise the industry. There has been tremendous change in the telecommunications industry as a result of the implementation of this policy.

Since telecommunication services are the backbone for the success of ICTs, good telecommunications infrastructure, policies and regulatory mechanisms are a prerequisite for the efficient and effective use of ICT. With respect to regulatory mechanisms, our minds are still fresh from the ITU best practices case study on Botswana Telecommunications Authority, which was presented during the Regulators’ Development forum in Geneva, December of last year. The study can be found in the ITU T-Reg website and I notice that it was part of the CD Rom which was distributed last week. The 1995 policy is perhaps one of the most liberal policies in the region. This policy calls for the liberalization of telecommunications services. Implementation of this policy has placed Botswana teledensity amongst the highest in Africa. As at December 2001 the fixed telephony teledensity was 9.5%, whilst the mobile cellular teledensity was 20%. Other tangible benefits are that the industry has grown from a turnover of about US$30 million in 1998 to around US$130 million, as at present, with significant injection of foreign investment. Competition has also offered consumers with alternative services.

There has also been tremendous development in the provision of Internet services since licensing of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in 1999. Currently there are eleven (11) Internet Service Providers. In addition to these, there are five (5) licensed private network telecommunications service providers and six data service providers. These service providers have been allowed to use Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) to provide national and international data services. There has been improved Internet connections and usage both at Government, non-government organisations as well as private companies. There is room to improve individual Internet connection, which is still slow and quite low. The ICT policy is aimed at, inter alia, addressing the Internet access and awareness issues.

On the issue of Universal Service and Access, the Botswana realises that despite the Government effort to fund the provision of telecommunications services in rural areas annually, most people living in the rural areas do not have basic telecommunications services. Also the Internet has not reached most parts of the country. The Universal Service and Access strategy, which is currently being developed by Botswana Telecommunications Authority aims at bridging the gap that exist in the provision of information and communication services between cities and rural areas, as well as between the poor and the rich in Botswana. The Authority plans to plough substantial funds into the implementation of the strategy from its surplus funds accumulated over the last five years.

I believe the development of the Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and Universal Service and Access Policies in Botswana will have a significant impact in the industry and the Botswana nation as a whole. I expect this development to even have a faster pace after the creation of a dedicated Ministry of Communications, Science and Technology, which should be in place fairly soon as announced by Government last month.

As Botswana celebrates the fifth anniversary of the creation of Botswana Telecommunications Authority this year, we look back with extreme satisfaction that the decision to liberalise the industry in 1996 was indeed the right and appropriate one and will continue to be implemented vigorously.